Hardee County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Hardee County are filed and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse in Wauchula. The clerk issues all marriage licenses for the county and records them into the official files after the ceremony is done. You can search for Hardee County marriage records by visiting the clerk office in person or by requesting copies through the mail. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville also holds marriage certificates going back to June 1927. For anything older than that, the Hardee County clerk is the only source. Whether you need a certified copy for legal proof or just want to look up a record, the clerk office in Wauchula is the place to start for marriage records in Hardee County.

Hardee County Clerk of Court

The Hardee County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all marriage license services from the courthouse in Wauchula. You can reach the clerk at (863) 773-4174 for questions about marriage records or license applications. The office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. Both people applying for a license must show up in person at the same time. A valid photo ID is required for each person. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number as well. If either party was married before, you must know the exact date your last marriage ended by divorce, death, or annulment.

Hardee County follows the same rules as every other Florida county under Florida Statutes Chapter 741. Section 741.01 says the clerk issues marriage licenses when there is no legal block to the marriage. Section 741.04 requires both parties to sign an affidavit with their true ages. Both must also read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before they apply. There is no residency rule. Anyone can get a license in Hardee County and use it anywhere in the state of Florida.

Note: The Hardee County clerk office does not accept personal checks for marriage license fees.

Marriage License Fees in Hardee County

A marriage license in Hardee County costs $86 without a premarital course. That drops to $61 if both parties complete an approved premarital preparation course. The course must be taken within one year of the application date. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course also waives the three-day waiting period that applies to Florida residents. Non-residents of Florida do not have a waiting period at all, so they can get married the same day the license is issued in Hardee County.

The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued. That is set by Section 741.041. You can use a Hardee County license for a ceremony anywhere in the state. After the wedding, the signed license must go back to the Hardee County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends the information to the state. If you want a ceremony at the clerk office, the fee is $30. Under Section 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks, and notaries public in Florida can all perform the ceremony.

Certified copies of recorded Hardee County marriage licenses are available from the clerk. Fees for copies at most Florida county offices range from about $2.50 to $9 for the first copy. You can ask the clerk for the current copy fee when you call or visit. The Florida Department of Health also sells certified marriage certificates for $5, which includes a search of one calendar year plus one copy.

Hardee County Marriage Records Search

Hardee County does not have an online portal for searching marriage records. To look up a Hardee County marriage license, you need to contact the clerk office in Wauchula directly. You can call (863) 773-4174 or visit in person. The clerk can search records by name and date. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are public. Section 119.07 says anyone can inspect or copy public records at any reasonable time. You do not have to be a party to the marriage to request a search or get a copy of the record.

For records from 1927 and later, you can also try the state. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville has marriage certificates on file. A state search costs $5 for one year and one certified copy. If you do not know the year, each extra year searched is $2, up to $50. You can order from the state by mail, in person at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville, or online through VitalChek. VitalChek charges $15 for the state fee plus $7 for processing. It is the only vendor the state contracts with for online orders of Florida marriage records.

The My Florida County Records portal may also let you search official records in Hardee County. This state-run site covers many counties and can be a useful way to find marriage license documents without calling the clerk directly.

State Records for Hardee County

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. These certificates are abstracts pulled from the original marriage license data. They show both spouse names, the marriage date, and the county. A certificate from the state is accepted as proof that a marriage was recorded. If you need more detail, like the number of prior marriages, note that on your request form and the state will include the extra information if it is in their records.

After a ceremony in Hardee County, the completed license goes to the clerk for recording. The clerk then sends a copy to the state. This takes about 60 days. So if you just got married and need proof fast, go to the Hardee County clerk rather than the state. Records from before June 6, 1927 are only at the county level. The state did not start collecting marriage data until that date. Under Section 741.09, the Hardee County clerk keeps a correct record of all licenses issued.

Note: Processing at the state office takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 forward, and longer for older files.

Public Access in Hardee County

Marriage records in Hardee County are open to the public. Florida has one of the strongest public records laws in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying by any person. You do not need to give a reason. You do not need to be related to anyone on the record. The clerk must let you see and copy records during normal business hours. Standard copy fees are 15 cents per page. Certified copies cost more but are still affordable at most Florida offices.

Some information gets redacted. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and medical details are protected under Section 119.071. But the bulk of any Hardee County marriage record stays public. The names, dates, and other key facts are all accessible to anyone who asks.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website has a directory of all 67 county clerk offices. You can use it to find contact details and links for the Hardee County clerk or any other county in the state where you might need to search for marriage records.

Hardee County Marriage License Steps

Getting a marriage license in Hardee County is a straightforward process. Florida law sets the rules. Here is what you do:

• Visit the Hardee County clerk office in Wauchula with your partner
• Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number
• Pay the $86 fee or $61 with a premarital course certificate
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course
• Get married within 60 days anywhere in Florida
• Return the signed license to the Hardee County clerk within 10 days

The three-day wait starts the day you pick up the license. Non-residents of Florida can marry the same day. Couples who finish a premarital course also skip the wait. The course must come from an approved provider and be done within one year of applying. After the ceremony, the clerk records the license and you get a certified copy. The data then goes to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent filing.

The Florida Department of Health portal shown above is where you can start an online search or order for Hardee County marriage certificates through the state. The state marriage certificates page has forms, fee details, and instructions for mail or walk-in requests.

Nearby Counties

Hardee County sits in south-central Florida. If you need marriage records from a neighboring area, the counties below have their own clerk offices and may hold the records you are looking for.